Stoke City at-the-double at Brentford for a 0-0 draw

Stoke double their point tally!! They rise off the bottom!! They don’t concede a late penalty or do anything else stupid!! No, it’s solid tackling & no silly errors. Etebo could have won it, but today the fans are happy (well, sort of) to take a point off a decent (sort of) Brentford side. Here’s how it unfolded in real time (well, sort of):
Yes, it’s the last time Stoke play at Griffin Park (which is due to be turned into flats). It’s also where the Nathan Jones journey started with Stoke –  a 1-3 defeat that he saw from the stand, 0-2 down in the first 17 minutes!! He must’ve wept. He doesn’t even have Benik Afobe (who scored that day in January), but he does have the advantage of being without suspended Allen. The only change is Etebo in for Joe, with Jordan Cousins returning to the bench. So much for Brother Nath being a changling-monkey…or a tinker-bell. Time waits for no man, and Nathan MUST give a good account of himself today, or it could be Brentford where he starts & ends his Stoke career…
0.00 Why are Stoke playing in red shorts?? Black shirts are OK, but as Brentford have black shorts….AND the referee(!!!)…Stoke have to change to red. Why doesn’t the blue-shirted ref have matching blue shorts in case of clashes? #FashionPolice
9.50 Clucas free kick straight at the keeper – wouldn’t have scored in a schoolyard game. Really? Stoke then survive a goalmouth scramble.
26.12 Ndiaye is fouled for the 7-8th time, and the home fans go bananas! He (the ref) doesn’t know what he’s doing, apparently. (Well, he couldn’t even remember to pack his blue shorts.) Meanwhile Badou rubs his twig-like shins that look so fragile that a gust of wind could knock him over.
32.12 As Liam Lindsay gets an arm in the face (& the ref takes even more flak), I’ve just noticed the smallest electronic scoreboard at any professional club. Liam, clutching his eye/cheek, stumbles off (Brentford fans still believe he’s faking it!) & is replaced by Danny Batth. Can I do my Time For An Early Batth joke? Please?
38.25 Tom Edwards drags back a winger, ref gives foul, home fans celebrate like they’ve won the cup. Comical.
45+4 HT Bees 0 Stoke 0 Ref 2
49.07 Carter-Vickers & Batth both take one for the team, a painful one by the looks of things, blocking piledrivers in the box!
57.32 As Etebo goes down the left channel in the box, ref (ahead of him for some reason) slips over in the way. He scuffs his black shorts – serves him right. Bedlam. For the money, you’d think refs could remain on their feet. Ndiaye will probably be a ref later in life…
63.03 After a pummelling from Stoke, Brentford float the ball into the net…after the offside whistle. Nearest they’ll be today…hopefully.
66.32 Captain Jack Butland tips one over the bar – first real attempt by the Bees. Assuming he’s still captain as Batth is on now…
72.45 And the away end is inspired by Tyrese replacing Tom Ince, who was missing throughout most of the match. Harsh. Now it’s end-to-end stuff.
77.23 Sam Vokes replaces poor old Lee Gregory, who’s run everywhere today, like a kid running round doing a paper-round.
81.22 After Etebo carelessly loses the ball, he robs a defender for a one-on-one with keeper, which he fluffs. Nath will mention that later. McClean yellowed for a trip.
89.20 Brentford flash one across the 6 yard box just past the post. Their best chance.
90+3 Brentford are best during the time-added. Too little too late.
Final score is Brentford 0 Stoke 0, & this could be the turning point…again.
Dave Lee
Dave Lee
Sports Reporter - Stoke City

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